Justice David Souter will retire from the Supreme Court in June after nearly two decades on the bench. His departure is not expected to have an immediate impact on the court's conservative/liberal balance.
'The vacancy could lead to another woman on the bench to join Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, currently the court's only female justice.
At 69, Souter is much younger than either Ginsburg, 76, or Justice John Paul Stevens, 89, the other two liberal justices whose names have been mentioned as possible retirees. Yet those justices have given no indication they intend to retire soon and Ginsburg said she plans to serve into her 80s, despite her recent surgery for pancreatic cancer.
Souter, a regular jogger, is thought to be in excellent health.
Interest groups immediately began gearing up.
"We're looking for President Obama to choose an eminently qualified candidate who is committed to the core constitutional values, who is committed to justice for all and not just a few," said Nan Aron, president of the liberal Alliance for Justice.'
At the time of his appointment Justice Souter had been considered a solid conservative, but conservatives were soon disappointed. Among the decisions that angered conservatives and libertarians was his vote on Kelo v. New London which expanded the definition of "public use" as it applies in cases of
eminent domain. Souter sided with city of New London, Connecticut against the local property owner whose home was ultimately seized. The argument was that New London would benefit from the higher tax revenue generated by the property after its forced sale to a private developer.
Some months later a group petitioned the town of Weare, New Hampshire to consider taking, by eminent domain, a farmhouse owned by Souter and converting it into the "Lost Liberty Hotel."
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